Friendly seal - too friendly?

Shenshen

I'm not entirely sure this belongs here, but this forum seems the best fit. Mods, please move it if there's a better place for it.

It's a bit of a lengthy story, so please baer with me.
I go for swims in the sea all summer (starting in March and finishing in October, usually), in a little bay close to my home in Cobh, in Cork harbour.

There's a seal that occasionally shows up to look at swimmers for a while. It's not a busy place, but there'd be a number of people going for swims there regularly. Most of us know about the seal, and quite a few have seen him for themselves.

Now, a few weeks ago, I accidentally kicked him - I was out as far as I would normally go, maybe 300m from shore. He must have been swimming very close behind me when my foot made contact. I turned around, a bit shocked and not sure what I'd hit, and he surfaced, looked at me, and while I apologised he huffed and dove off again.
Actually quite funny in hindsight.

Yesterday, I was pretty much alone when I went for a swim. As I was out and about to turn to swim back, the seal jumped up very close to my left hand (as in, centimeters away) in a little dolphin leap. Scared the life out of me, I had not been expecting that! A minute later, he pops his head up maybe a meter in front of me, then dives again.
Ok, bit playful, I thought, but turned to swim back in anyway. I felt him swimming past underneath me at one point as I made my way back.

When I got to the shore, one of the other regular swimmers was waiting for me, shouting "Did you see the seal, there?" I said I had, how he had jumped by my side and showed up in front of me. The man then said "Ah, but you didn't notice he was following all across the bay?" - that creeped me out a bit. From where he told me he had noticed the seal following me to where I had finally seen it is the stretch of water where I would be furthest out from any land.

Now, the seal seems to be perfectly friendly and just very nosy. Maybe looking for someone to play with him, even? But I'm very conscious that it's a wild animal, quite a sizable one, very much at home in the water and with a formidable set of teeth at one end. Even if he is just being playful, I'm worried that if he decided to nip me while I'm out in the middle of the bay, I'd literally jump out of my skin. But how likely is that? I know there were some reports in 2009 of a seal biting swimmers somewhere around Dublin, but would that have been an isolated case?

I'll probably be sticking to the shore a bit more in the foreseeable future, but it's sad because I really like being out there swimming along. And I would actually be quite happy to have the seal around, if I wasn't so worried that he might attack or just do something stupid?

So, thanks for your patience in reading all this, would anyone have any advice for me? Any personal experiences? Any marine biologists out there who could give me some guidance? Or even just people with a bit of folklore?

tritriagain

used to have a seal follow me on long swims on my local beach. over and baxk again and again. when i stopped he would as well and the 2 of us would bob up and down looking at each other . neares i got to him was about 10 feet but anytime i drifted nearer him he would always keep that distance from me. i know seals can nip but have only heard of one giving a nasty bite and thats when one was on shore and probable felt cornered and less mobile while out of water.

Bunnyslippers

How cool!!:). I think he'll be being nosey more than anything, he maybe just a youngster and curious. Unless you tried to catch hold of him, smack him one or something or you decide to wear a mackerel flavoured swim suit I very much doubt he'd bite you! Take it as a compliment that he's trusting you enough to let you get that close, just don't try and stroke him!, the closest I've ever had a seal come was about 10 feet while swimming so you're very lucky!:)

njs030

You should ask in the scuba forum, I've read a few stories of scuba divers encountering seals, I think they are usually friendly! If he wanted to hurt you he had plenty of time so it seems like it was being playful.

Do the obvious things like don't look him in the eye avoid challenging behaviour etc, maybe google how to act.

Sounds fun if a bit nerve wracking!

Shenshen

Bunnyslippers wrote: »

How cool!!:). I think he'll be being nosey more than anything, he maybe just a youngster and curious. Unless you tried to catch hold of him, smack him one or something or you decide to wear a mackerel flavoured swim suit I very much doubt he'd bite you! Take it as a compliment that he's trusting you enough to let you get that close, just don't try and stroke him!, the closest I've ever had a seal come was about 10 feet while swimming so you're very lucky!:)

Jeez, no, wouldn't go near him with food
I think that's the very thing that I find a bit unnerving, that he's getting quite so close. Makes me doubt his motives

Yes, it is quite something, really, for him to be so trusting. Even after I did kick him. I'm wondering if he took that as some sort of invitation.

Shenshen

notjustsweet wrote: »

You should ask in the scuba forum, I've read a few stories of scuba divers encountering seals, I think they are usually friendly! If he wanted to hurt you he had plenty of time so it seems like it was being playful.

Do the obvious things like don't look him in the eye avoid challenging behaviour etc, maybe google how to act.

Sounds fun if a bit nerve wracking!

Oh, I didn't know there was a scuba forum. I googled seal behaviour last night, and that first thing I came across was a diving and spear-fishing forum where people were advising to stay well away from them - because they are prey for great white sharks and may attract them.

I think I'm quite safe on that count at least

njs030

Shenshen wrote: »

Oh, I didn't know there was a scuba forum. I googled seal behaviour last night, and that first thing I came across was a diving and spear-fishing forum where people were advising to stay well away from them - because they are prey for great white sharks and may attract them.

I think I'm quite safe on that count at least

http://touch.boards.ie/forum/344

Here you go!

tk123

Bunnyslippers wrote: »

How cool!!:). I think he'll be being nosey more than anything, he maybe just a youngster and curious.

Agree with this - any I've seen close to land around Dublin bay would be smallish ones. I've seen bigger ones in Sutton out on the sand banks with youngsters and they keep their distance and just sunbathe lol!

sbsquarepants

Shenshen wrote: »

Jeez, no, wouldn't go near him with food
I think that's the very thing that I find a bit unnerving, that he's getting quite so close. Makes me doubt his motives

Yes, it is quite something, really, for him to be so trusting. Even after I did kick him. I'm wondering if he took that as some sort of invitation.

Maybe he thinks you just look good in your swimsuit:D

I had a seal crash into me while chasing fish (the seal, not me!), absolutely scared the bejaysus out of me. I though jaws had me for sure until I calmed down and seen the puppy dog eyes staring at me accusingly as though I'd just crashed in to him!

I think they'd be quite unlikely to harm you though, unless they had young pups with them and felt threatened.

Shenshen

notjustsweet wrote: »

http://touch.boards.ie/forum/344

Here you go!

Thanks!

Just searched for "seal" there, and came across a wonderful description about their behaviours, someone even describing how they play "follow the leader/swimmer" and scatter when the swimmer looks around (which mine seems to be doing).

It does make me feel a bit less anxious, but I'll still stick to the shallower bit of the bay for now

njs030

This is my favorite post I think.
All the cute seals following people and randomly crashing into them while chasing fish....awwww!!

Dial Hard

I used to dive and getting followed by seals was a regular occurrence, they're very inquisitive animals. The only advice we were ever given was not to get between them and the sea if you encountered them on land. Keep swimming where you are and enjoy the bit of company.

duploelabs

The seals around Killiney Bay are very territorial and have been known to nip swimmers at the Vico (and no it's not because of the fluid bathing costume policy)

uck51js9zml2yt

First it was a seal, next it will be a shark...look forward to the next installment

irish_goat

You might enjoy this clip as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rppi4napf1M

Shenshen

irish_goat wrote: »

You might enjoy this clip as well.

If I could thank that twice, I would!

StupidLikeAFox

Shenshen wrote: »

Even if he is just being playful, I'm worried that if he decided to nip me while I'm out in the middle of the bay, I'd literally jump out of my skin. But how likely is that?

I would say its quite unlikely. The force required to remove your skin from your body is likely many times what your legs could produce in a jumping motion

Bandana boy

A vacationing penguin is driving his car through the Desert when he notices that the oil pressure light is on. He gets out to look and sees oil dripping out of the motor. He drives to the nearest town and stops at the first gas station.
After dropping the car off, the penguin goes for a walk around town. He sees an ice-cream shop and, being a penguin in the Desert , decides that something cold would really hit the spot. He gets a big dish of ice cream and sits down to eat. Having no hands he makes a real mess trying to eat with his flippers. After finishing his ice cream, he goes back to the gas station and asks the mechanic if he's found the problem. The mechanic looks up and says "It looks like you blew a seal."
"No no," the penguin replies, "it's just ice cream."

alpha13

irish_goat wrote: »

You might enjoy this clip as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rppi4napf1M

crafty little S#ite.. he knew well what he was at there :D:D
i wouldnt be worried about the seal shen.. they say the seal is the dog of the water... if you dont threathen them or go to them but let them come to you then all will be fine as long as no young around.. naturally.. big vote of confidence in you from the seal.. they can tell... just like a dog can tell the ones that are good or not...

Glass fused light

irish_goat wrote: »

You might enjoy this clip as well.

how to train your human
:D

SmartinMartin

I'd say once he doesn't show up with a bunch of flowers and a tube of lube you'll be safe enough.

DBB

Steady on now folks, this is a family forum

Glass fused light

Shenshen wrote: »

Snip - because they are prey for great white sharks and may attract them.

I think I'm quite safe on that count at least

:eek:

http / www dot irishmirror dot ie /news/world-news/huge-great-white-shark-lurking-7908698

Apparently you can follow the tagged ones.

http / www dot ocearch dot org / profile / lydia/

Shenshen

Glass fused light wrote: »

:eek:

http / www dot irishmirror dot ie /news/world-news/huge-great-white-shark-lurking-7908698

Apparently you can follow the tagged ones.

http / www dot ocearch dot org / profile / lydia/

Oh, great. Just when I was feeling a little more confident again

denismc

I scuba dive and have encountered many seals over the years. For the most part the seals were just curious and would sneak up behind us and even nip our fins the odd time.
Now this is great fun if you are wearing a mask and can see what is going on. But if you are on the surface and can't see what they are doing then it would be unnerving.
Here is a snap of a friendly encounter I had a few years back.

Shenshen

denismc wrote: »

I scuba dive and have encountered many seals over the years. For the most part the seals were just curious and would sneak up behind us and even nip our fins the odd time.
Now this is great fun if you are wearing a mask and can see what is going on. But if you are on the surface and can't see what they are doing then it would be unnerving.
Here is a snap of a friendly encounter I had a few years back.

I wouldn't be wearing fins, so I'm a little worried about my toes. Not even wearing a wetsuit, just a regular swim suit, so I do feel a bit vulnerable.

But I thought I'd get myself some swimming goggles, so when he does show up again I can check what he's doing below the surface (I've got contact lenses, so don't like opening my eyes under water).

Glass fused light

Shenshen wrote: »

Oh, great. Just when I was feeling a little more confident again

Sorry, crappy attempt at a joke it was not meant to worry you.
NB All the other research (by researchers not reporters) says that as fishing boats are not pulling in sharks that they dont swim in irish waters.